2013 Mount Edelstone

Eden Valley

Shiraz

Dark crimson with bright ruby hues. Lifted aromas of sage, bay leaf, black pepper, brown baking spices, plum pudding and blue fruits are woven together with charcuterie and earthy notes. The palate is rich and complex with layers of blackcurrant, blackberry and Satsuma plum, expressing hints of cedar and leather. Balanced acidity and fine-grained tannins reveal incredible length and depth. 

$315.00
$315.00
Dark crimson with bright ruby hues. Lifted aromas of sage, bay leaf, black pepper, brown baking spices, plum pudding ...

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BACKGROUND

The beautiful and historic name Mount Edelstone is a translation from the German Edelstein meaning ‘gemstone’, a reference to the small yellow opals once found in the area. The Mount Edelstone Vineyard was planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas, a descendant of George Fife Angas who founded The South Australian Company and played a significant role in the formation and establishment of South Australia. Unusual for its time, the vineyard was planted solely to shiraz. The ancient 500-million-year-old geology in the vineyard has given rise to soils that are deep red-brown clay-loam to clay, resulting in low yields from the dry-grown, ungrafted centenarian vines. First bottled as a single-vineyard wine in 1952 by fourth-generation Cyril Henschke. By the time Cyril purchased the vineyard from Colin Angas in 1974, Mount Edelstone was already well entrenched as one of Australia’s greatest shiraz wines. Crafted by the Henschke family for over 65 years now, Mount Edelstone is arguably the longest consecutively-produced, single-vineyard wine in Australia.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Varieties: 100% Shiraz
Harvest Date: 5 - 9 March
Alcohol: 14.5%
Vintage rating: Excellent vintage

Cellaring potential: Drink now – 2045+

VINTAGE

The lead-up to the 2013 vintage saw an early onset of summer, with occasional thunderstorms and only four heat spikes, into the 40s, over summer. A cooler than average January followed by a warm February, brought the predicted early vintage even further forward. Even after the dry-fecta of winter/spring/summer the word from the winery floor was that it would be another great Eden Valley riesling year, followed up with some great old-vine shiraz. Fortunately, a desperately needed 16mm of rain came, the first for nearly six months, at the beginning of March to help the dry-grown vines struggle through to full maturity. The roller-coaster weather ride continued through March with almost weekly cycles of hot and cold. Cool drizzly weather at the end of March nearly brought the harvest to a halt, but a return to the Indian summer conditions in early April gave us a chance to get the late varieties in Eden Valley over the line for another great vintage of average yields and fabulous, rock-solid quality.

TASTING NOTES

The beautiful and historic name Mount Edelstone is a translation from the German Edelstein meaning ‘gemstone’, a reference to the small yellow opals once found in the area. The Mount Edelstone Vineyard was planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas, a descendant of George Fife Angas who founded The South Australian Company and played a significant role in the formation and establishment of South Australia. Unusual for its time, the vineyard was planted solely to shiraz. The ancient 500-million-year-old geology in the vineyard has given rise to soils that are deep red-brown clay-loam to clay, resulting in low yields from the dry-grown, ungrafted centenarian vines. First bottled as a single-vineyard wine in 1952 by fourth-generation Cyril Henschke. By the time Cyril purchased the vineyard from Colin Angas in 1974, Mount Edelstone was already well entrenched as one of Australia’s greatest shiraz wines. Crafted by the Henschke family for over 65 years now, Mount Edelstone is arguably the longest consecutively-produced, single-vineyard wine in Australia.

Varieties: 100% Shiraz
Harvest Date: 5 - 9 March
Alcohol: 14.5%
Vintage rating: Excellent vintage

Cellaring potential: Drink now – 2045+

The lead-up to the 2013 vintage saw an early onset of summer, with occasional thunderstorms and only four heat spikes, into the 40s, over summer. A cooler than average January followed by a warm February, brought the predicted early vintage even further forward. Even after the dry-fecta of winter/spring/summer the word from the winery floor was that it would be another great Eden Valley riesling year, followed up with some great old-vine shiraz. Fortunately, a desperately needed 16mm of rain came, the first for nearly six months, at the beginning of March to help the dry-grown vines struggle through to full maturity. The roller-coaster weather ride continued through March with almost weekly cycles of hot and cold. Cool drizzly weather at the end of March nearly brought the harvest to a halt, but a return to the Indian summer conditions in early April gave us a chance to get the late varieties in Eden Valley over the line for another great vintage of average yields and fabulous, rock-solid quality.

18.5/20
“I remember this wine well; it was always a more powerful and strident soul. In a classic drought year, it showed harder tannins and rippling muscle, and these traits have certainly mellowed over the last six years. This is a beautiful counterpoint to the 2019, and it was great fun to revisit this vintage. There is no doubt that it is a mighty Mount Edelstone, and while it is not...

MATTHEW JUKES, MATTHEWJUKES.COM

17.5/20
“Deep blackish ruby. A certain saline/marine quality on the nose – iodine? Great balance but still seems pretty young with tannins still in evidence. It's easy to see the relation with the 2019. Still with a long life ahead of it…Dry finish with an impression of cinders.”

JANCIS ROBINSON, JANSCISROBINSON.COM

97 points
“This Museum & Rare Collection release maintains a firm but fine backbone of polished tannins which, together with the youthful primary fruit (predominantly black), brings potency and great presence to the palate. Sage, winter greens and underripe strawberry lend nuance and freshness. There is subtle viscosity too, with tertiary tapenade character and nutty, savoury oak. But there's plenty of mileage here too, with mouth-coating tannins and cleansing acidity to the...

SARAH AHMED, DECANTER

97 points
“It's in a wonderful place with some light tertiary tones beginning to make themselves known in the form of gentle leather and tobacco notes that lie behind the elegant red and dark berry fruits. On a Zoom meeting as I tasted this wine, Stephen described the tannins as savoury and akin to a 'rollercoaster of tiny pebbles', which is a description that I love. It's a pleasure to see these...

DAVE BROOKES, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION

96+ points
“…the wine is svelte and seamless in its flow of flavor across the palate, with pomegranate molasses, alpine mint, dried herbs, a hint of arnica, rose petals and black cherry. It is chewy, elegant and spiced. It's a lovely wine that has decades to go.”

ERIN LARKIN, WINE ADVOCATE